Death in a White Tie

The season had begun. Débutantes and chaperones were planning their luncheons, teas, dinners, balls. And the blackmailer was planning his strategies, stalking his next victim. But Chief Detective Inspector Roderick Alleyn knew that something was up. He had already planted his friend Lord Robert Gospell at the scene. But someone else got there first...

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Publisher's Summary

A body in the back of a taxi begins an elegantly constructed mystery, perhaps the finest of Marsh's 1930s novels.

The season had begun. Débutantes and chaperones were planning their luncheons, teas, dinners, balls. And the blackmailer was planning his strategies, stalking his next victim. But Chief Detective Inspector Roderick Alleyn knew that something was up. He had already planted his friend Lord Robert Gospell at the scene. But someone else got there first...

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

On the whole, probably not. I'm a fan of Ngaio Marsh and other classic English mystery writers largely for the restoratively escapist experience they provide -- the luxury of immersing myself in a not-too-serious puzzle in an elegantly mannered, rarified society at a distant time, without bothering my little head about the real world questions of social justice and an impermeable class system, economic depression, and xenophobia that also characterized these times. I also consider listening to the perfect vowels and resonant tones of Benedict Cumberbatch's voice a truly satisfying indulgence. Unfortunately, Cumberbatch doesn't do young women spectacularly well, and he does American women less successfully than English women. Since many of the most importent characters in this story, both the ones we're supposed to love and the ones were supposed to despise, are women, that fact makes the escapist exercise of suspending disbelief more difficult, the experience a bit less satisfying. Moreover, I have never thought that Marsh does very well by her characters when they are trying to express deep emotions, especially romantic ones. Lines that had struck me as uninspired or unsuccessful when reading this old favorite--but which I shrugged off, and read on in search of the bad guys -- are revealed as jaw-droppingly silly, vapid, even embarrassing in narration. (I suspect that the abridgment makes it even worse, as these things seem to come even more out of the blue than in the original, but I think the fault is there in the original.). Again, hard to stay rapt in the the moment when the urbane hero is making an implausible goob of himself. Overall I still enjoyed both the narration and the story, but I suspect that I could have spent the time on much more edifying or, alternatively, more effectively escapist, offerings.

How would you have changed the story to make it more enjoyable?

Either left the development of the Alleyn -- Troy romance to another time, or done much more with it, more believably. I also would have made Cumberbatch's interpretations of the characters "Donna" and Bridget less affected and more straightforward.

Which character – as performed by Benedict Cumberbatch – was your favorite?

A toss-up. Cumberbatch's voice is ideal for Alleyn: I don't think I'd want to hear anyone else do it. Cumberbatch brought out aspects of Lord Robert Gospell's character that I had overlooked when reading the book, so I was surprised and then impressed by what he did with that character.

Do you think Death in a White Tie needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

As to writing, a moot point: there are many, many Alleyn books, and Dame Ngaio is no longer with us. As to recording, yes, absolutely. Cumberbatch should do as many of these books as possible, preferably focussing on books that have a high proportion of men and/or elderly women in the dramatis personae. And then he should do the Campion stories. And the Lord Peter Wimsey stories. And all the Sherlock Holmes.

I hate to say this because I love Benedict Cumberbatch's speaking voice, but the narration on this audiobook is really bad - the pacing is too quick and, espcially with the fast pacing, it's difficult to tell one speaker from another. There are parts where the narration is much better and there is tone and emotion in the various character's voices, and other times when it sounds like the book is being read quickly with little inflection, as if under time constraints. I don't know if that's a post-production issue or if Cumberbatch read it that way.

I haven't decided if I'm going to continue or return it. I might choose an unabridged Ngaio Marsh title with a different narrator, as I can see some good mystery underneath it all.

Benedict Cumberbatch reads Marsh's work brilliantly, giving the story charm and humour, emotion and detail. Set in an upper class realm of debutantes and high society, Marsh's mystery makes for a very entertaining and amusing audiobook. Highly recommended.

Unbelievably dense, overwrought, and - ultimately - silly. One of those mysteries where meaningful information is too concentrated in the pages dedicated to the solution. I love tales of the English class system - no Bolshi I - but too much of the milieu of this book is preposterous. It gets three stars because the reader was top-notch.

Benedict Cumberbatch is fantastic at the voice acting in this one, there are times when you really forget that it is all just him and there isn't some elderly stiff upper lip gentleman or a querulous old woman acting it with him. The storyline itself is great and you will be working to figure out how the crime was pulled off, and serious kudos if you actually manage to guess it before the big reveal.

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

SheilaPower

7/7/14

Overall

Performance

Story

"a trip to 30's high society"

Would you consider the audio edition of Death in a White Tie to be better than the print version?

YES, the performance had the lively quality of a radio play. I felt every moment that I was in the room.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Death in a White Tie?

Inspector Alleyn description of Troy; "would he ever recover from the love of her"

What does Benedict Cumberbatch bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?

He has a mastery of voices that bring each character vividly to life, conjuring a whole person out of the air.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Allen and Troy' s reunion.

Any additional comments?

After listening to "death in white tie" I immediately downloaded another Marsh/Cumberbatch book.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Brenda

TROWBRIDGE, United Kingdom

2/14/14

Overall

Performance

Story

"Talented Writer, Talented Narrator"

What made the experience of listening to Death in a White Tie the most enjoyable?

Benedict Cumberbatch's narration was amazing, proving he is as amazing narrator as well as a talented and amazing actor!! More please!!

What was one of the most memorable moments of Death in a White Tie?

Excellent story, strong characters

Have you listened to any of Benedict Cumberbatch’s other performances? How does this one compare?

Yes listened to them all, I'd love more, he's someone along with Tom Hiddleston I could listen to all day long!.....

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes, couldn't bring myself to stop listening

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Seagull

Midlands, UK

12/16/14

Overall

Performance

Story

"Entertaining and well read"

A classic who-dun-it from a still very popular author. The downside of this book is that it's abridged - shame! However, the upside is that it's narrated by the absolutely excellent Benedict Cumberbatch who brings it alive in such a way that it's quite a job to realise that it's just one person reading this book. I just wish that it was the whole book he was reading, and not an abridged version.

0 of 0 people found this review helpful

linda

9/9/14

Overall

Performance

Story

"Forgetable!"

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

Yeees......... It was a pleasant way to pass a few hours and of course Benedict Cumberbatch is great but I literally can't remember what the book was about only a couple of weeks later!

What could Ngaio Marsh have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

Made it more interesting

Which character – as performed by Benedict Cumberbatch – was your favourite?

cant remember any of them!

Do you think Death in a White Tie needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

No. One was enough

0 of 0 people found this review helpful

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